2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Ralliart Concept [56k Warning]

[VIPFREAK]

but people just didn't understand that either, and it sold like crap.

💡 Less NasCrap more Rally?

 

[niky]

Well, the Contour and Taurus SHOs weren't much on looks. That's a big hurdle to overcome, even if the car underneath is fundamentally sound. (much like with the new Eclipse).

I think the RS would have sold well in the US... but there's just something about highly charged turbos and US emissions laws...

 

[JNasty4G63]

Well, the Contour and Taurus SHOs weren't much on looks. That's a big hurdle to overcome, even if the car underneath is fundamentally sound. (much like with the new Eclipse).

Well, now a day, they don't look that good. But, in their day, they looked fine. I think the trick with cars like that is getting it to look enough like the standard model that people know what it is, without making it look gaudy. They all did just fine with that.

The big problem was, people just didn't buy performance sedans from America back then. In the late-90s, the "American Performance Sedan" just didn't exist, let alone with FWD. They were good performance machines, but people just weren't looking for that at domestic dealers. Great following for them now, but when the sales meant the most, they just didn't move.

Hilg

 

[Raghavan]

Not bad... Not as bulbous as the regular one...

 

[DARKEST_HOUR]

Nice only . .. if it were FR i would drive it.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Why is that?

 

[emad]

If they release it, wouldn't it kill Lancer Evo sales? If it does that, doesn't that hurt Mitsubishi even more? I mean... the company was about ready to tank just a year ago

 

[Ev0]

I find it ironic they made the car work only as a concept. Heck, the only thing keeping me from actually liking the normal Eclipse is its front wheel drivetrain; make it rear or all wheel drive, and it would be a great car.

 

[Solid Fro]

Why is that?

He thinks that if it was FR, then he would be able to "drift" in it.

Cars are more than just being able to "drift" in them. Get a clue.

 

[Wolfe]

He thinks that if it was FR, then he would be able to "drift" in it.

Cars are more than just being able to "drift" in them. Get a clue.

Ya know, I was about to defend DARKEST_HOUR, but then I wisely decided to check his myspace page first...you obviously know him better than I do...

Anyway, I really hope Mitsubishi comes through with this...I can forgive a car manufacturer for making a fat pig as long as there's power going to the rear...

 

[Onikaze]

Just for the record, not everyone prefers RWD just for Drifting.

I prefer feeling in total control of the car, balanced tire usage, the knowledge that I can dramatically alter the cars attitude with my right foot and left hand, and of course, because you can do silly hooliganish things in it.

Also, it wouldnt be Wrong Wheel Drive, which makes me happy too.

 

[rollazn]

WOW - this thing is nice!!!

I like it. 👍

 

[gt4rulez]

i don't like the normal new eclipse but this one...damn it looks so nice!
i really hope it will be in the next GT

 

[Young_Warrior]

Letely in the non formula one world 4 wheel drive actually seems to be slowy catching up with and overtaking RWD when it comes to going around a track as fast as possible and not needing big wings to plant you to the ground.

 

[xcsti]

Letely in the non formula one world 4 wheel drive actually seems to be slowy catching up with and overtaking RWD when it comes to going around a track as fast as possible and not needing big wings to plant you to the ground.

It works better in f1 too, only thing holding it back is the fact that it is banned.

 

[niky]

Nah... AWD is too heavy to compete with Rear Wheel drive in races like that. There is a good reason why JGTC Skylines are FR and not AWD.

In the wet or in low traction conditions, it would be an advantage, but in dry races, AWD equipped cars meeting current F1 rules would just be too heavy and slow.

 

[Ghost C]

It may have 400chp (That's concept horsepower), but the real world version might get about 100 less than that, if it's lucky. It will have at least 50hp less than the new Lancer Evo.

In the end, it's just a tarted up slushbox. You can polish a turd...

 

[emad]

There is a good reason why JGTC Skylines are FR and not AWD.

JGTC introduced regulations to ban AWD from being used in races. For the first year or two, the GTR had Nissan's AWD system and was dominating the tracks.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Audi dominated alot of touring cars series with their quattro power vehicles and usually after they won and dominated the championship in their opening season AWD would subsequently get banned.

 

[Vonie]

In the SPEED World Championship, the (AWD) Audi RS6's usually have a great first lap or so, but then the forward weight distribution kills the tires earlier than the other cars.

Nice Eclipse, by the way.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Im surprised anyone would race a car as big and heavy as a RS6.

 

[Vonie]

Especially against cars like Mustangs, Vipers & 'Vettes. Oh my!

 

[Young_Warrior]

Ouch thats harsh not only the weight but also its centre of gravity is allot higher.

Well maybe they will switch to the RS4 soon or use the audi R9 (lemans concept) when its released ansd show the true potential of 4WD

 

[Onikaze]

The R9 would make a good racecar.

Starting with a Front engine setup and severe front weight bias doesn't make a good racecar.

Dynamically the best layout would be something similar to a Skylines ATTESSA system, spliting torque front to rear, with SH-AWD's left to right tossed in, put under a Mid Engined car.

Hmmm...Dynamic AWD, low center of gravity, light weight...I think Ruf needs to mix a Cayman with a 911 Turbo, badly.

THAT would be awesome.

 

[DARKEST_HOUR]

Not only for drifting but it would cool to see a 600 HP "eclipse" doing the time attack at
Tsukuba.

 

[a6m5]

Where I live, the road is slippery between most of October - May, so AWD is a huge advantage to have. I love the grip and secureness of front and all wheel drive. If I lived in California, where it's dry, I'd love to own a rear wheel drive, but for now, I need to drive fast safely. I'm a decent driver, but I've seen too many drivers in RWD sports car lose control on a wet pavement.

 

[Wolfe]

Where I live, the road is slippery between most of October - May, so AWD is a huge advantage to have. I love the grip and secureness of front and all wheel drive. If I lived in California, where it's dry, I'd love to own a rear wheel drive, but for now, I need to drive fast safely. I'm a decent driver, but I've seen too many drivers in RWD sports car lose control on a wet pavement.

I live in Wisconsin, and I've seen too many drivers in FWD cars understeer into curbs and light poles during winter. For contrast, I have never seen a RWD car lose control. I am not claiming that it never happens -- I've just never seen it with my own two eyes. Which tells you something about how often these things happen.

For an even further contrast, I thoroughly enjoyed drifting around town and up onramps last winter with my BMW. And whenever I decided not to drift, I had no problem keeping the car going where I wanted it to. With my parents' FWD Oldsmobile, understeering into a curb is alarmingly easy to accomplish, and with my parent's Chevy Blazer, I would always drive with 4WD turned off unless the snow was really deep. That way, I saved gas, and I knew I could trust it to do exactly what I wanted in an emergency situation.

JGTC introduced regulations to ban AWD from being used in races. For the first year or two, the GTR had Nissan's AWD system and was dominating the tracks.

Bingo. GT4 has one, it's the 1993 Calsonic Skyline. That's one helluva car.

 

[a6m5]

I live in Wisconsin, and I've seen too many drivers in FWD cars understeer into curbs and light poles during winter. For contrast, I have never seen a RWD car lose control. I am not claiming that it never happens -- I've just never seen it with my own two eyes. Which tells you something about how often these things happen.

Are we talking about sports cars and sporty driving(i.e. street racing )? Obviously you are unlikely to lose control, even in RWD, doing normal driving. When I said RWD sports cars losing control on a wet pavement, that's when they are trying to haul in rain. I'm sorry if I didn't make that part clear in my earlier post.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Bingo. GT4 has one, it's the 1993 Calsonic Skyline. That's one helluva car.

Ive got to get this car. Where do I get it from I dont think ive ever seen a calsonic skyline r32

 

[Onikaze]

It's bad enough that cars come tuned to understeer these days, but when you take a FWD car, it just gets absurd.

Cars are designed to handle head on collisions better than anything else, interestingly, when you understeer into something, you tend to hit it head on...coincidence?

Some makers don't tune in understeer, Honda's sportier FWD cars, most of which are sold as Acura's over here these days, were pretty good about being as neutral as a front heavy wrong wheel drive car can get.

RWD gives you control over all 4 wheels, fronts steer and have major braking duties, rear tires drive, have braking duties, and can also alter the weight balance of the car.

Remember the manual talking about how a tire can only use 100% of it's traction?

Well in a FWD car, you're dividing the 100% of the front two tires between all the duties, braking, steering, accelerating.

On ice, you're dividing up, what, 60%? Probably less?

No, FWD is not safer on ice unless you consider understeering into ditches, curbs, and head on collisions safer than spinning into those situations.

We need to get Mythbusters to test this one.